Water Requirement:

Soil Requirements:

Remarks

Yuccas for Texas High Plains Landscapes

There are many yuccas we can grow in the Texas Panhandle that are all low water-use. Those yuccas native to the southeastern United States can take medium water, while those native to the southwestern areas are quite drought tolerant. Soils for all these yuccas should have fairly good drainage. Avoiding overwatering in clay soil.

Cold Hardy Yuccas

As with most native southwestern plants, for decades it was assumed the cold hardiness of yucca were fairly warm blooded. However, these early cold hardiness ratings were issued by gardeners and botanic gardens from more moist winter climates. In soil with good drainage, less organic matter and our normal winter moisture, yucca are hardier than first thought.

The temperatures given below are all conservative. With good soil drainage they can winter over very nicely for us, many in a Zone 6 winter (down to -10°). Some of the yuccas are stemless, others single trunked or multiple trunked, most forming multiple clusters.

Roots of yuccas grow deep; propagation is by root divisions with the trunkless yuccas, as they are clump forming. Try to dig out as deep a section of root as possible, then nurse its growth along for a year before letting it on its own. I've not attempted propagation of the trunk forming yuccas.

Much of this information is taken from Mary and Gary Irish's book, Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants, and from my own experience with them. For much more information on individual yucca species, click on Plant Lists, Yucca.

Y. whipplei, Chaparral yucca, single rosette or clumps to 3-6', SW, to 0°.

*I have grown the yuccas noted with an asterisk in my landscape or in other landscapes I've designed. Yucca's can make good container plants for temperature sensitive species.

Use in Garden

Yuccas are one of the plant genera that are what I term, southwest evergreens -- plants that provide that evergreen presence in our gardens. Sunny drought tolerant beds and borders. Native plant gardens. Rock garden (depending on species). Habitat garden. Southern garden. Xeric garden. The arborescent (tree-like) yuccas can be used as accent plants and focal points in the landscape. Yuccas work great in containers, whether they are cold hardy or non-cold hardy. Just be sure to move the containers inside during the winter.

Maintenance

Very little maintenance is needed. Cut off flower stalk in autumn or late winter.